pingali

Traveling to Switzerland on a 8 day - guided tour ...

Based on itinerary I have to choose one of the following option. .

2 days - Interlaken area
1 day - Gstaad

OR
1 day - Zermatt &
1- day - St martiz &
1 - day Locarno
& Day visit to Interlaken

Need expert advise .... I know this is not apple to apple comparison - but helps me to choose the itinerary for a first time visitor.

Regards-

Dukey1

The first one, definitely and make sure that Interlaken "area" includes somewhere ABOVE the town and not just around it or even IN it.

twk

What Dukey1 said. Interlaken is not the attraction--it's the mountain valleys south of town that are. If the tour operator is actually going to put you up in Interlaken, and take you around Interlaken, I would select the other option (although this includes a day visit to Interlaken, so it's not much better, if that is the case), but if they are talking about taking you up the Lauterbrunnen valley, or up to Grindewald, then that's what I would do.

pingali

Still the advise is same ?

The activity around Interlaken is

An unforgettable trip to the high Alpine wonderland of ice and snow is the true highlight of a visit to Switzerland. Globus Local Favorite At an amazing 11,332 feet, the JUNGFRAUJOCH is Europe’s highest railway station. Jungfrau’s 13,642-foot summit was first ascended in 1811 and in 1912 the rack railway was opened. There are lots of things to do here: enjoy the ALPINE SENSATION, THE PANORAMA 360° EXPERIENCE, and the ICE PALACE. Also receive your JUNGFRAU PASSPORT as a souvenir to take home with you. The round trip to the “Top of Europe” by MOUNTAIN TRAIN will take most of the day.

Still the advise is same ?

twk

If you are taking a package tour that includes a trip to the Jungfraujoch, my biggest concern is that side trip will be pre-determined, and that you will end up going up the Jungfraujoch on a day with poor visibility, which will make it a wasted trip. What else do they have planned for you?

Basically, most people on this forum are going to tell you not to take package tours because that's not how they travel. The first option involves less hopping around, which is normally good, but if you are locked into a Jungfraujoch excursion, regardless of the weather, that would not be good.

pingali

Yes I will be locked up irrespective of weather .... but if the trip is worth taking risk and no comparison to

1 day - Zermatt &
1 day - St martiz &
1 day Locarno

I will take my risk ...

I do have some mobility issues (Moderate arthritis) so I am better of with guided tour even against my own wish.

I am from US and saw these guided tours of US and none of us will take them ... so I know what you are all talking

Thanks

michelhuebeli

This one is impossible - "1 day - Zermatt & 1 day - St martiz & 1 day Locarno" - (BTW - it is St. Moritz) - they are too far apart to make it "a day" in each.

If you were to do those three, there should be a day and two nights between each to get from one to the other, and even then - just having one day in each location is silly, if the weather stinks you've wasted an awful lot of time and money.

Case in point: You leave Zermatt after breakfast and check-out, on the 09:37 train, you get to St. Moritz by 17:03.

Or you leave St. Moritz on the 09:57 and you get to Locarno by 13:56. Find your hotel, have lunch, and most of the day is gone.

Just so you know, in case you can be independent while based in Interlaken: The Schilthorn is as famous and spectacular as is the Jungfraujoch - look it up at http://schilthorn.ch/en/Welcome

kja

Please see your other thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ided-tour-.cfm